Fur-pelt stretcher



May 29, 1923. 1,456,764

C. B. CORBIN FUR FELT STRETCHER Filed March 25, 1922 awmz "tom C'h ar/esB. Corbin Patented May 29, 1923.

UNITED "STATES cmams n. 0033111, or GRAND aarms, MICHIGAN.

FUB-PELT STBETCHER.

Application filed March 25, 1922. Serial No. 548,651.

To allwhom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, CHARIES B. IORBIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in F ur-Pelt stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in implements for stretching and drying the pelts of fur bearing animals, and the objects of my invention are: first, to provide a means whereby both sides of a stretched pelt will be exposed to the free circulation of air; second, to provide a means whereby the lengthwise stretching, elements may be successfully operated without the necessity of making notches in the side supporting ele-- ments; third, to provide a means whereby a pelt may be stretched without danger of tearing or distorting it, and, fourth, to provide a means whereby a flexible sidewise strain will be exercised upon the pelt.

I attain these objects by the mechanism and construction of parts shown in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan of the stretcher as it is constructed.

Fig. 2 is the same with a pelt stretched upon it, and

Fig. 3 is a plan and an elevation of one of the longitudinal stretching implements disconnected from the side elements, and, also, showing how these elements may be made extensible for use upon pelts of different widths.

Similar reference characters indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the construction of this stretcher I make use, first, of a reasonably rigid spring steel wire body 1, bent at 9 and made in the form of a wish bone, as indicated in Fi 1, the ends of said body being, preferaialy, formed in a circle at each side, as at 3, thence inclined centrally and extending well up into the space between the two sides of the body 1 and pivotally connected, as at 4, so these arms will provide a continuously straining element at the lower ends of the body to insure perfect, but'a pliable strain upon the pelt, as represented at 8 in Fig. 2.

. To stretch the pelt longitudinally, and to hold it in roper condition upon the stretcher I ma a two clips, 5, made U form at the frame ends, as at 6, and having holes d therethrough, through which the wire that forms the body of the stretcher 1 may be passed and the clips may be set in any position longitudinally of the said wires. These holes are so positioned that when the points a are engaging the lower end of the pelt and the pelt is properly strained, the clips will be so firmly clamped upon the wires that it will be impossible for the clips to slide thereon.

When a pelthas been properly drawn over the stretcher wires, as Indicated at 8 in Fig. 2, the clips 5 are so placed that they are outside of the pelt and'the points a are made to engage the lower end of the pelt, on each side, when the clips may be drawn downwardly upon the body until the pelt is properly stretched, when the clips willbe left to stand under the strain of the stretched pelt and they will become anchored upon the body wire, as hereinbefore stated.

When a pelt has been properly stretched and dried, it may be readily removed from the stretcher by releasing it, from the points of the clips, pressing the sides of the stretcher inwardly and the pelt will readily slip off.

When making these stretchers for stretching pelts of difi'erent lengths and widths, as, for instance, for use in stretching anything from a large mink, a muskra't, a skunk, a raccoon etc. I provide an extensible clip, as shown in Fig. 3, where the clamping plate 5 is provided with a short clamping bearing, and a sliding plate so connected therewith, as with the loops 6 and 0, that the plate 7 may be extended or withdrawn as the width of the given pelt may demand, the bearings 6' being so constructed that the plate 7 may be moved, practically the entire length of the plate 5, and the construction at 2, 3, 4 is such that while itwill hold the lower ends of the body wires securely apart,'in fact, will press outwardly thereon, it may be readily forcedtogether to adjust the stretcher to any width of pelt.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new in the art, is:

1. In an implement for stretching the pelts offr'ur bearing animals, a frame made of spring wire U formed, the ends of said frame positioned at an incline inwardly between the'sides of the frame and pivotally connected, a clip made of sheet metal with one end formed U sha ed and having .a hole through each side of t e U for sliding upon and forming a clamp with each arm of the frame.

' ered in claim 2, an extensible member slidma -m4 ingly mounted upon each of the clips for varying the length of the clips.

4. In combination with the elements -covered in claim 2, one end of the clip made U formed and at a slight obtuse angle with the body of the clip and provided with a hole through each side of the U form, and in direct alinement, a loop formed at the other end of said clip, a second plate havin a loop formed at one end to engage the rst named plate and form an extensible member on said clip, the free end of said plate inclined relatively downwardly and having points thereon for engaging the ends of the pelts to be stretched.

Signed at Grand Rapids, Michigan, March 18, 1922.

CHARLES B. CORBIN. 

